NPA tells candidates to seek their permission if they want to campaign in their "territories"

Agence France-Presse (AFP), via InterAksyon.com, reports that on Monday, April 22, the New People’s Army (NPA) "warned politicians to seek their permission before campaigning in the insurgents’ strongholds following an ambush that wounded 78-year-old Ginoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona and killed two of her aides."

Agence France-Presse (AFP), via InterAksyon.com, reports that on Monday, April 22, the New People’s Army (NPA) "warned politicians to seek their permission before campaigning in the insurgents’ strongholds following an ambush that wounded 78-year-old Ginoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona and killed two of her aides."

The report quoted Jorge Madlos, a spokesman for the NPA, who said that "Guingona, a member of President Benigno Aquino’s ruling party, had been previously warned that entering rebel areas with armed escorts could touch off violence."

Madlos went on to say that the NPA "would continue to man checkpoints to ’impose revolutionary policies’ on candidates for the May 13 local elections." Madlos reiterated: "They should secure permission and coordinate with our local forces when entering our area, and they should also not have armed escorts. Our fighters are calling politicians on the phone to inform them we are serious in implementing our policy."

Meanwhile, in other reports, Senator TG Guingona, son of the wounded Ginoog City mayor, pointed out that the NPA has no right to impose their own laws on anyone.